How to visit Angkor Wat in 2 days
Want to know how to visit Angkor Wat in 2 days? I remember the first time I visited Angkor Wat. It was in 2006 and I knew absolutely nothing about the site. Which temples to visit, how to get around, photography tips and the story….
I had no clue.
This time however, I read up on the story and tips. And now..
I’VE BEEN WOOED!
In total there are more than 1,000 temples spread out on an area of 400 square kilometres. As you can imagine, there are way too many to explore. That’s why I’ve made this post with the most popular temples. In my other post The Ultimate Guide to Angkor Wat, you’ll get all the information you need on prices, dangers, how to get around and much more.
For now, here are the top temples of Angkor Wat in 2 days.
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Plan your trip
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Angkor Wat in 2 Days
Day 1
Sunrise at Angkor Wat (only if you’re visiting during high season), Bayon, Ta Prohm, Baphuon
Day 2
Sunrise at Angkor Wat (only if you’re visiting during high season), Angkor Thom gate, Angkor Wat, Preah Khan, Ta Som
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Top Attractions
Sunrise & sunset
You can watch the sunrise from Angkor Wat (most popular) or Srah Srang and the sunset from Phnom Bakheng (most popular), Angkor Wat or Pimeanakas
Trees growing from temple ruins
Ta Prohm, Banteay Kdei, Ta Som
Faces
Bayon, Angkor Thom gates, Banteay Kdeo, Preah Khan, Ta Prohm
Special carvings
Bakong, Bayon, Terrace of the Leper King, Banteay Srey, Angkor Wat
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BAYON TEMPLE
Bayon should be the first stop on your tour. This temple group is known for the unique carvings of faces, which is classic Khmer art and architecture.
Bayon has 37 towers and almost every one of them has four carved faces. It is debated who the faces represent, but presumably it’s Buddha or the king who built them (Jayavarman VII).
The highlight of Bayon is the bas-reliefs on the exterior walls near the stone faces. Also note the unfinished carvings on other walls.
Bayon is surrounded by high jungle which can make it a bit dark for photography near sunrise and sunset.
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TA PROHM
Remember seeing this photo before?
No? Really?
You guys, it’s from Tomb Raider. Before starring in an Angelina Jolie movie, Ta Prohm was a Buddhist temple built for the mother of King Jayavarman VII. Today it has been largely left to the clutches of the living jungle.
So, here’s a thought:
If you see only two temples, it should be Bayon and…. Ta Prohm.
Gasp!
I know, I know. I’m supposed to say Angkor Wat, but… I can’t.
Angkor Wat is tremendous. Extraordinary even. And it’s not to be missed. But the truth is that while Angkor Wat was breathtaking, huge and crowded, I was simply just more impressed with Ta Prohm. It had that Indiana Jones vibe going on; buried in the jungle and all. Also, I’m really fascinated by trees growing into temples. Aren’t you?
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ANGKOR THOM GATE
Only one kilometre east of Ta Prohm, you’ll find Angkor Thom (Big Angkor); a 3 kilometer walled city with five entrances. Each gate is crowned with four giant faces like you see on the photo below. Bayon is at the center of the city.
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BAPHUON TEMPLE
Inside the walls of Angkor Thom you’ll also find Baphuon temple, which is a temple mountain built as a state temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva.
Note the unique animal carvings at the walkway entrance and the impressively large reclining Buddha on the west side.
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PREAH KHAN
By now you’re probably pretty templed out. And if you can’t stand the thought of one more jungle temple, that’s alright. It’s probably really hot and humid, too.
I know the sticky feeling.
If you do visit Preah Khan, you should know that it’s full of carvings, passages and photo opportunities. Like architecturally similar Ta Prohm, this beautiful temple is also bound by massive roots of huge trees. And we like those.
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TA SOM
Ta Som is the most distant temple in the Grand Circuit. It’s definitely worth a visit, but it takes a while to get there by tuktuk (30 minutes). At Ta Som you should look for the apsaras carvings, stone face carvings, the jungle temple atmosphere and the famous Ta Som gateway which is encircled by roots of an old banyan tree.
Photography tip: Ta Som is best photographed in the afternoon.
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ANGKOR WAT
Behold…. The mighty Angkor Wat.
Impressive, huh?
This massive three-tiered pyramid is crowned by five lotus-like towers rising 65 meters from the ground.
Also, this particular spot is where you’d be watching the sunrise with a gazillion other tourists (don’t say I didn’t warn you). I haven’t had the pleasure myself, but supposedly it’s only really good twice a year. If I were you and I visited during the high season (January – March), I’d still go for it though. Who knows, you might be lucky.
It’s supposed to be BREATHTAKING.
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Feeling adventurous?
Then you can climb the towers and catch the view of the entire site. The steps are insanely steep, but the view is absolutely worth it. See proof below.
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Feeling like being tomb raider for a day? This is the place to do it.
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Wow! They all look amazing! I can’t even imagine being there in person and seeing these temples. On my bucket list!
I really hope you get to see it, Amy! Angkor Wat is hands down one of the most impressive places I’ve been to.
BEAUTIFUL pictures! I’ll be in Siem Reap in fall and am excited to now have an itinerary already! thank you 🙂
That’s great to hear! I’m so glad I could help – let me know if you have any questions 🙂
Lovely photos, Miriam! I also found Ta Prohm to be very impressive, as well as Baphuon. The sunrise at Angkor Wat was incredible, but the crowds were horrendous!
Thank you, Ashley! Yeah, I’ve heard that the crowds are horrible, but it wouldn’t stop me from going, though. I’m glad you got to experience it!
I’m going to bookmark this for when I finally get back to South East Asia and visit there! Very useful guide thank you 🙂
Thanks, Becky 🙂
I must say seeing Angkor Wat in 2 days is a big challenge because there are so many temples around that it takes ages to see them all. Great itinerary!
Thanks! Unless you’re archaeologically interested, I think most people get templed out quickly. I’ve found a two day itinerary to be the best way to get most of of visiting.
Angkor Wat was so impressive! I agree, 2 days is about the right amount of time to experience them. You could spend a week, but most people will strike the right balance of wonder after 2 days (without getting ‘templed out’!)
Absolutely!
Also – Bayon might be the most underrated of the Angkor complexes. Every turn brought more sculptures of smiling faces!
I love your classic Bayon photo, kissing the King (or Buddha?). I kept coming up with interesting poses, although there’s always soooo so many people there so you need to set up the shot and be quick, which is challenging when trying to line it up.
Thanks, Todd. I liked Bayon as well although Ta Prohm was probably my favorite. I really enjoyed the jungle feel.
Gorgeous photos! Angkor Wat must be one of the most amazing man made structures in the whole world. I cannot recommend it highly enough. For those who plan to see it, try and visit some of the lesser toured sites away from the crowds. You will not be disappointed.
I agree! There’s so much to see at Angkor Wat and it never seizes to amaze me. Thanks for the tip.
Thanks for sharing Miriam..was 2 days enough to run this circuit without feeling rushed?
You’re welcome, John! 2 days is more than enough to see the main temples and then some. In my opinion, if you spend more than that you’ll be templed out.
Hey Miriam! Thank you so much for your detailed post and honesty! I am planning a trip to Angor Was by myself and can only do it in 1.5 days, so I’m really happy you posted this. When you mention day 1 vs day 2, should I assume you are there from sunrise to sunset? How should I plan to take care of meals if I am there all day? Do they have close by vendors or are we able to pack lunches etc? I don’t want to be disrespectful in this way either. Thank you so much for your insight!
Hi Natalie,
I spent maybe 5-7 hours per day at Angkor Wat (including lunch), from around 8 or 9 in the morning. I didn’t see the sunrise because it was out of season and cloudy in the morning so no reason to get up super early. Between noon and 2.30pm, many temples are empty and it’s very, very crowded at sunrise, just so you know!
You could ask your hotel to pack a picnic and snacks, or you can go to lunch nearby. I don’t remember where I ate, but there are restaurants nearby, just take a tuk tuk there. If you’re in doubt, ask at your hotel. They’re usually very helpful and can recommend restaurants, provide bicycles and tuk tuks.
I’m sure you’ll have a great trip. Angkor Wat is a stunner!
Hi, Miriam, did you buy a 3 day pass for this because I understand there is no 2 day pass? Thanks
Yes, I bought a 3-day pass. When I was there last (in 2014), these were the ticket options and prices in US$:
One day: $20
Three days: $40
One week: $60
Just an update: there is now a 2-day pass to Angkor Wat: $37 for one day, $68 for two. Just got back. Bayon was so crowded it was hard to enjoy. Angkor Wat, not so bad at all!
Ah, cool, thanks for the update, Ann! Glad to hear they added a 2-day option considering the recent price rise!
Hi Myriam !
Thanks a lot for this post, I was worried I would miss a lot since we had only two days here ( due to flight prices ) but thanks to your article we got to see the most amazing ones and even a few extra ! I totally agree with you about you temples selection and advices.
I would like to warn you however : the pass prices did explode recently so now the one day pass is 37$, 3 days 62$, and one week 72$.
Also, though Angkor Wat was not my favorite it is still impressive and i have an advice for those wanting to climb up the main tower : we first passed a bit before lunch by the waiting line which circles the main tower under a burning sun. And even if the waiting time to the stairs was about 15 mins only ( normally more one hour according to the signs ) we preferred to pass. But we came back one hour later so it was lunch time and we did no queue at all and had very little people on the top. So those wanting to go up : go there at lunchtime in low season ( July for us ).
Thanks again for you article. The tips and photos made it really easy for us to plan the trip and appreciate the place and we had an amazing time 🙂 I dreamt of going there for about 8 years and I cay say this is the most amazing place I have seen in my life. Really worth the trip.
So glad to hear that, Alyson! And thanks for your great advice and update on the entrance fees! I can’t believe how much they have raised the prices – they’ve almost doubled since I was there in 2014.
Thanks for all the posts! Alyson, did you buy a one day ticket or the 3 day ticket during your short visit? We intend to visit in at the end of January for a short visit and only want to visit 2 or 3 temples, b’cos I have a an ADHD son with me! Please advise what’s the best option. Thanks Miriam and Alyson!
Hi Candace,
I’m just going to jump in here in case Alison doesn’t see your comment. In light of the high prices and that it’s a short visit, I recommend buying the one-day ticket. You can go early in the morning and see one or two temples without the crowds (the main temples are close to each other). Then you could go for lunch to relax and then head back for the last temple in the afternoon. Book a tuk tuk to take you around the site.
Bayon (the head carvings), Ta Prohm (trees growing from the temples) and Angkor Wat (the main temple) are the must-see temples. If you visit them, you have a pretty good impression of Angkor Wat.
Have a great trip with your son.
Hi Miriam, I’ve read somewhere about biking in Angkor Wat. I just can’t remember where. I was wondering if there is really biking inside Angkor Wat and if you’d recommend it? Please help.
Sure, you can rent bikes and bike around Angkor Wat. Just remember that the site is huge! It takes 30 minutes by tuk tuk to get to Ta Som temple (the famous doorway) while other temples are even further away. Plus, it gets extremely humid and hot there (especially from April to July) so biking is not the most comfortable way to get around.
If you’re there to see lots of temples and don’t want to spend more than a few days, you should take a tuk tuk. But if you’re just visiting some of the main temples that are close to each other, you can bike between them.
I hope this helps.